"The Biff" is great for this game! How stupid do you have to be to think that a good scrap cheapens our game? I live in an area of the UK (Channel Islands) that doesn't even know what Rugby League is! Over the years I've managed to get quite a few friends into it, and they love the aggression and the fights, it's part of what makes them continue to follow it when they are not in my house with my ramming it down their throats!

I've recently started a new job and got a colleague watching Wigan and his facebook status during that match was... "FIGHT!!!!!" then followed by numerous comments stating how awesome the aggression and full blooded nature of our game is compared to anything else he had ever watched. Get a clue, fighting is a part of our game and shows passion! How many people over the years have tuned in to SOO just waiting for the first bit of good biff!?

I love a bit of biff, and when Peacock goes toe to toe with someone I'm the first one cheering, but that's my Leeds/GB/England bias, and he's been very lucky to avoid a ban or two in the past. I've no problem with players rough-housing, it's part of the game, but most of this wasn't that, it was -housing, and that's got no part in the game.

I'm utterly perplexed by the many claims that LMS and Hock were equally guilty. Seriously, take your cherry and white glasses off and look at the stats:

Head contact: LMS 1 Hock 1
Punches Thrown and landed for no apparent reason: LMS 0 Hock (at least) 6

Yes, that's equal.

For me, I don't think Hock's indiscretion should be taken in isolation, I don't think he has any appreciation of how lucky he is to be still be allowed to play the greatest game alongside incredibly talented and clean players and I'd like to see him hit with a six game ban - three immediate and three suspended. The message has to be sent out to Wigan, sort him out or get shot. I'm impressed that he managed 14 games without having a typical Hock moment, but it was inevitable, we all knew it was inevitable, and to treat it the same way as someone like Tomkins or Danny McGuire lashing out is farcical.

I think Tuson probably had to go - he threw one hell of a lot of punches - but sending off certainly sufficient, he was trying to walk away and even mild mannered types are liable to over react when sucker punched.

Magennis can't really complain at whatever ban they give him, he completely lost it. If they'd stuck his mum in a Wigan shirt and stuck her in front of him he'd have probably chinned her.

Mossop's the only one of the scrappers I'm undecided about, I understand why he did it, but he had no need to get involved. It would be a real shame to be banned for that, but technically I think they have to give him at least a game, because he ran in and punched.

And on McIlorum, I can't decide whether he's lucky to get away with it or not. I'm tempted to give him the benefit of the doubt, because normally tackles like that are just a momentary lapse (or repeated momentary lapses, see Brent Webb) but he looked like he might have meant it - and he's good, so 1 match ban for him.

And Tomkins, well done on supporting a worthy cause, but I'd like you banned anyway because you're rather good.

(edited as I now have information that makes my previous statement both ridiculous and embarrassing)

Quote: Big Jim Slade "but mainly for that ridiculous finger celebration - it was embarrassing when Leon Pryce tried to be a footballer 10 years ago. It's still embarrassing.'" Would that be the 'ridiculous' and 'embarrassing' finger celebration that 90% of the players did in order to show their support for Jack Johnson? www.joiningjack.org

Quote: Big Jim Slade "but mainly for that ridiculous finger celebration - it was embarrassing when Leon Pryce tried to be a footballer 10 years ago. It's still embarrassing.'" Would that be the 'ridiculous' and 'embarrassing' finger celebration that 90% of the players did in order to show their support for Jack Johnson? www.joiningjack.org

Oh dear

I can't quote all the posts above but clearly - Fighting is NOT a part of our game.
Just because you like it doesn't make it part of the game. It is against the rules for a reason.

Of course a physical and passionate game sometimes spills over and is actually important when the big guys are trying to dominate each other.
BUT, going out with the intention of doing it, or continuing on when the initial spark has finished is not part of the game, it is thuggery. If not stamped on every time it happens then we will be back in the 70s taking the play maker's head off.

I'm not saying I didn't quite enjoy watching it but two guys trading punches is not the same as cheap shots and thuggery.
I could have accepted Hock getting a yellow actually, but the guy who hit the guy from behind needs a big ban. (Magennis?)
Tuson will get it for the amount of punches thrown but at the end of the day he was defending himself which is fine by me, but he just took it a few punches too far.

Several of the Wire players did it, a few Cas and IIRC a few did it in the Hull game as well.

It's not difficult to sort out though is it

Yellows at the time to calm them down

Bans to punish them from the diciplinary on the Tuesday

Other sports could learn a hell of a lot from League's dedication to community and good causes. Proportionally the whole of RL punches way above it's weight in that department.

But that's an argument to not send anyone off ever isn't it? Some things deserve harsher punishment and provide greater benefit to the non-offending team than a yellow card.

The kind of punching and fighting that went on between Magennis & Tuson was as bad as anything in the 80's just without the all-in mass brawls that used to follow it in the 80's. Both easily deserved a red. If you don't send them off for that then you're never going to send anyone off.

Hock was probably a bit unlucky because if you watch the footage you can see hes right in Thalers eyeline and all Thaler probably saw was a bit of handbags at the scrum followed by Hock holding LMS while punching him several times. I'd have been happy with a yellow for Hock but his own stupidity in the past will lead to refs taking a harsher line with him and so I don't think a red is outrageous in the circumstances.

I enjoy a good punch up as much as anyone (at pro level), but it should be at the right times and circumstances. This was not a tight game where emotions getting the better of players could be understood. The game was easily Wigans and players on both sides should know better.
Also, whilst understanding that emotions & tempers do overrun at times during tight games, we have to get it out of minds that punching someone in the head is somehow ok. Not only can it obviously lead to severe injury but I would argue that for every red-blooded male football fans' interest it might attract, it loses the interest of 2 cricket/tennis/athletic female fans & crucially their kids.

Quality

Good recovery

Watch the Super League Supermen with his dad on. Very moving.

So why did Hock have his hand on LMS face?

And who is Tomkins holding.... Louie?